Guinaifen shifted her posture and continued advancing the storyline.
Given the current situation, the priority was to escort the puppet judge back to the Judiciary.
Luocha suddenly spoke up: "I have some modest knowledge of medicine. Perhaps you'll allow me to attempt treating the young lady's... injuries?"
"Huh? You do realize she's a puppet, right? Shouldn't we just take her to the police station?"
With that, Luocha approached the girl and revealed a golden ornament in his hand.
A soft glow emanated from it.
"It shouldn't hurt, but you might feel something strange... perhaps sour, perhaps numb. Can you hold still?" Luocha asked.
The girl lying on the ground replied expressionlessly, "It's useless... My body is a mechanical construct—"
"Mechanical or flesh... both are merely physical forms. As long as the young lady doesn't object to my methods..."
Under the glow, the damaged parts of the girl's mechanical body miraculously restored themselves!
A name appeared in the dialogue box—Xueyi.
"You—how did you do that?! That's not medicine!" Sushang exclaimed in shock.
"[Abundance]..." Dan Heng muttered under his breath.
"Modest knowledge of medicine, huh?"
"You can even heal inorganic lifeforms?!"
"This power of [Abundance] is seriously handy!"
"Can it fix a broken body?"
"He's so polite—now I have to pull for Luocha!"
Xueyi sat up. "Good. No need to return to the Judiciary Bureau. The mission continues."
"Under the Ten-Lords' decree, as a judge, I am not to involve outsiders. But since you aided my escape... you should leave now."
"My purpose here is to uphold justice—to apprehend a fugitive: a member of the Stellaron Hunters. This individual wields extraordinary swordsmanship and a divine weapon. Extremely dangerous."
Hearing this description—
Dan Heng tensed up instantly.
"If not for an unforeseen anomaly, my [Blade] might have been lost forever."
"An unforeseen... anomaly?"
The group pressed forward.
The sight within the Artisanship Commission came into view—a massive furnace, ensnared and lifted by the roots of the Ambrosial Arbor.
Guinaifen let out an exclamation of realization.
This scene matched the one from the main storyline!
"So, Dan Heng arrived at the Artisanship Commission first and witnessed the effects of the Arbor's resurgence."
"If March and the others had been faster, maybe..."
Sushang suddenly stopped again.
"Wait, look—that structure over there... the one aligned with the [True Sun]!"
Xueyi pondered briefly. "This serves as a warning. The Luofu may soon face a disaster of escaped Sunfires."
"For now, focus on the mission at hand."
"Those Sunfires have been imprisoned in the [Creation Furnace] for years, weakened and insignificant. Once this mission concludes, we'll report the matter to the Ten-Lords for deliberation."
The group pressed on.
Aside from gathering intel, the main narrative thread remained centered on Guinaifen's sister.
"Dan Heng, Sushang, and Luocha are already playable characters..."
"Xueyi, might you also become playable?"
"I need to start the next game ASAP!"
Returning to the Story
Observing the scene before them, Sushang marveled, "So this is the legendary [Ambrosial Arbor]? My first time seeing it!"
"Back in Yaoqing, our celestial wonder was a wheel-shaped moon..."
"But I heard the [Arbor] withered long ago... Why has it suddenly regrown?" Luocha questioned.
"It must be the work of the Stellaron. No other explanation. We must return to the Ten-Lords at once!" Xueyi declared. "Given my injuries, I'll need your assistance. Escort me to the Starwatcher Avenue, and you'll be free to go."
"Uh... fine. Every Luofu citizen has a duty to aid the Ten-Lords..."
Sushang scratched her head sheepishly.
"Sorry for the delay. Once we get you back, we'll—"
As they prepared to depart, Xueyi suddenly turned to Dan Heng.
"Your features seem... familiar."
"Don't be alarmed. I've cross-referenced the prison's records. No matches."
"The hints about Dan Heng's connection to Imbibitor Lunae are everywhere!"
"Is Guinaifen actually a genius?"
"Why did Imbibitor Lunae betray the Xianzhou back then? And why does Blade keep hunting Dan Heng?"
"I can't wait to see Dan Heng fight Blade! Who's stronger?"
Sushang couldn't resist asking, "Honestly, this is my first time meeting a Ten-Lords judge... What exactly do you handle?"
Xueyi answered, "We oversee matters of longevity and the Mara-struck."
After some time, they spotted a middle-aged man at a staircase, accompanied by a goldfish and a small listening beast.
"Why does this feel so familiar?"
The man seemed to be muttering to himself: "I, Gongshu, am no coward! The fate of the Artisanship Commission rests on my shoulders now!"
"Woof!" The beast responded.
"No! A'Cai, you go on ahead. The Cloud Knights are taking too long. It falls to me to—turn the tide!"
Hearing this, Sushang couldn't take it anymore.
"Master Gongshu! This isn't the time for heroics!"
Gongshu startled, staring at the beast in disbelief.
"A'Cai, you—you can talk now?!"
"Who are you calling a dog?!" Sushang huffed.
Gongshu finally noticed the approaching group.
"My apologies, miss. I never installed a voice module for the little one..."
"Huh? More visitors? All the apprentices fled. I'm the only one left in the Commission. You there—state your business!"
"You said [the Cloud Knights are taking too long]. Well, this Cloud Knight is here now!" Sushang declared.
"Leave this to me. You're coming with us!"
Gongshu stood firm. "Impossible! As the Chief Artisan, I must remain at my post!"
"Guess we'll have to do this the hard way. Will you walk, or should I have the guy in white stuff you into his coffin and carry you out?"
"I—I... give me a moment to think!" Gongshu stammered, clearly unprepared for Sushang's bluntness.
"Now! Immediately!" Sushang practically growled.
"Cloud Knight Sushang, reporting for duty!"
"Yaoqing's martial spirit is truly unmatched!"
"Sushang, I had no idea you were ! I... I like you even more now!"
"We Yaoqing natives value efficiency! You've done our Cloud Knights proud!"
Advanced 100 Chapters are up on my !
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